Education Commons^™

Rural Schools And Academic Achievement, Elissa M. Slason

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

This thesis seeks to answer the question: what is the impact of mandated testing on rural schools and how well do students perform? Standards-based education reform movement begun during the 1980's, is driven by the need to create academic standards for what students should know and be able to do. Currently, "No Child Left Behind" requires every state to set standards for grade-level achievement. Examing scores from two rural counties in Kentucky showed the complexity of analysing results of standardized testing.

Leadership Through Collaborative Strategic Planning: One School’S Journey, Sally Lewis, Sylvia Imler

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Educational administrators, school board members, and policy makers have been mandated to account for the learning and performance of the highly diverse students that comprise today’s classrooms. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2002 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA 2004) have presented a set of challenges for educating all children using data-driven decisions in a standards-based curriculum with culturally responsive practices. These mandates from federal and state legislation demand a change in administrative culture. These challenges require school personnel to develop plans to adjust their practices to meet the academic and behavioral needs of …

An Evolving Change In Public Schools: An Assessment Of Teachers' And Administrators' Perceptions And Classroom Changes Concerning High-Stakes Testing., Selena Marie Kiser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this study was to investigate changes in the curriculum caused by high-stakes testing mandates within 3 Southwest Virginia school systems to find best practices for instructional application in classrooms. This qualitative study was comprised of indepth interviews and observations with elementary school teachers and administrators. High-stakes testing has impacted the nation in myriad ways. The mandates from the government presented teachers and administrators with conditions that must be met according to the No Child Left Behind Act and individual state's standards. Teachers' perceptions of curriculum changes, Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP), testing mandates according to high-stakes testing, and …

Impact Of Standardized Testing Emphasis On Teaching And Learning In Kindergarten Through 12th Grade In United States Schools: East Tennessee Principals' Perspectives., Terri Dodge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The pressure to perform on standardized tests in the United States has become intense. Increased accountability has caused principals to think about their perceptions of standardized testing with regard to accountability measures, test validity, use of test data, impact of testing on the curriculum, and stress related to testing. The purpose of this study was to investigate kindergarten- through 12th-grade principals' perceptions of standardized testing. The study included 91 principals of Title I and nonTitle I schools located in 8 rural East Tennessee school districts. Data were gathered using a survey instrument to determine principals' opinions of standardized testing.

There …

Pssa Panic And Paranoia: Effects On Student Teachers, Linda Dessoye

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

It has been several years since the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was renamed the No Child Left Behind Act. In this major expansion of the federal role in education, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 required annual testing, specified a method for judging school effectiveness, set a timeline for progress, and established specific consequences in the case of failure (Wenning, 2003). The Washington Post referred to it as the “broadest rewriting of federal education policy in decades”(Milbank, 2002). The effects of the overwhelming pressure to perform well on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) …

The Professional Development Needs Of Rural High School Principals: A Seven-State Study, Pamela S. Salazar

The Rural Educator

The increased emphasis on standards-based school accountability since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is focusing critical attention on the professional development of school principals and their ability to meet the challenges of improving student outcomes. While rural school districts are dealing with many of the same issues facing urban districts, there are unique challenges that rural school principals face. However, effective professional development that addresses the unique needs of rural school leaders can build essential leadership capacity that supports school success. This article discusses the results of a study on the professional development needs …

Teacher Retention In A Teacher Resiliency-Building Rural School, William W. Malloy, Tawannah Allen

The Rural Educator

This article focuses on the challenge of teacher retention in rural schools in relation to the No Child Left Behind mandate, that school districts must attract and retain highly qualified teachers. This case study examines the extent to which a rural school enhanced teacher retention by overcoming the barriers that might otherwise have presented a challenge to teacher retention. Findings from this study suggest that the nurturing the nurturers concept, inherent in teacher resiliency-building schools, enhances teacher retention strategies.

A Comparative Study Of The Effectiveness Of Three Middle Schools In A Pennsylvania School District Designated As "Making Progress", Teresa Lee Powell

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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An Investigation Of The Impact Of The Success For All Whole-School Reform Model On The Elementary School Proficiency Assessment And The New Jersey Assessment Of Skills And Knowledge In An Urban District, Winston D. Jackson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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A Qualitative Analysis Of Fourth Grade Teachers' Perceptions Of The Impact Of The New Jersey Ask4 Testing On Instructional And Assessment Practices, Barbara A. Pepe

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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